Easy Holiday Recipes

Delicious Holiday Food

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Item five

Alsatian Christmas Cookies (NZ)

1 1/3 c Flour
1 c Almonds, ground; toasted
2 ts Cinnamon
1/3 ts Salt
3/4 c Butter; softened
1 ts Vanilla
1/4 c Orange peel candied; minced
1 Egg white beaten w/2 tsp
Water for glaze
Colored icings; colored
Sugar for decorating

Feature Box

Beat together butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in flour, almonds, cinnamon and salt, blend well. Stir in orange peel. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate 2 hours. Preheat oven to 375. Roll out dough 1/4" thick and cut shapes with Christmas cookie cutters. If not using icing, decorate with colored sugar or gragees before baking. Bake -12 minutes or until golden brown. Decorate with icing, colored sugars, dragees, etc. Store airtight at room temp one week, freeze longer.

Auntie Van's Christmas Cookies

2 cup Granulated sugar
1 cup Butter, softened
2 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 tablespoon Instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon Hot water
6 tablespoon Butter, softened
5 cup All-purpose flour
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1 cup Sour cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 cup Sifted powdered sugar
? cup Whipping cream

Coffee Frosting
1 T Instant coffee granules
1 T Hot water
6 T Butter, softened
1 t Vanilla
3 c Sifted powdered sugar
1/3 c Whipping cream

Beat granulated sugar and 1 cup butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; add alternately with sour cream, mixing well after each addition. Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out 1 piece on lightly floured surface to 1/8" thickness (keep remaining dough refrigerated). Cut into desired shapes; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown. Repeat with remaining dough. Cool completely. Frost with Coffee Frosting. Makes 6 dozen cookies.
Coffee Frosting: Dissolve coffee granules in water. Beat 6 tablespoons butter in medium bowl until soft. Stir in coffee mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add powdered sugar; mix until well combined. Gradually add cream until good spreading consistency.

CHRISTMAS BUTTER COOKIES

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar. Gradually stir in vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in flour and salt. Mix well. Wrap dough and chill for at least 2 hours. Lightly flour a pastry cloth and rolling pin. Roll dough to about 1/8" thickness. Cut into desired shape. Place 1" apart on cookie sheets. Bake at 350'F. for 10 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool, frost and decorate. Makes 5 dozen.

Christmas Candy

1 pound (468 gms) white chocolate
1 cup small pretzels, broken into small pieces
1 cup pecans, chopped

Melt the chocolate. Stir the pretzels and pecans into chocolate and drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper. Handy edible gift suggestion.